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OTTAWA — National unity is on firm ground despite the recent election of a separatist government in Quebec, says former prime minister Jean Chretien.

In an exclusive interview with Postmedia News, Chretien described the Clarity Act, which his government enacted in 2000 to guide future referendums, as a “stabilizing factor.”

He spoke confidently about the nation’s future — although he expressed concern about whether Prime Minister Stephen Harper plans to gradually strip power away from the federal government and hand it to the provinces.

“The state of unity is not too bad,” Chretien said during a wide-ranging discussion in his Ottawa law office. “It is somewhat better than it was the last 40 years. There’s not much debate about it.

“And there is nobody who is using it politically too much. Because it’s stable.”

Chretien participated in a Postmedia News project in which all of Canada’s six living former prime ministers were interviewed on issues of the day.

He said Canada’s failed bid in 2010 for a seat on the United Nations Security Council is a “sign” of problems on the international front.

Chretien also urged Canadians to not abandon the “values” of generosity and tolerance that have made their nation so admired around the world.

On the critical issue of national unity — which dominated the country’s agenda during much of Chretien’s lengthy political career — he was also candid.

In September, Quebecers elected Pauline Marois to lead a minority Parti Quebecois government. During the election campaign, Marois made it clear her party remains committed to an independent Quebec, although she was vague on when she would hold a referendum.

In the interview, Chretien indicated he’s not fearful of what lies ahead.

“The PQ know they cannot have a referendum. Second, you know, the (referendum) question will have to be clear.”

In past referendums, in 1980 and 1995, Quebecers were faced with supporting or rejecting an option that implied the province would maintain sovereignty association with the rest of Canada.

Moreover, it was widely assumed that separatists merely had to attain 50 per cent support in a referendum to attain their goal.

But in 2000, the federal Clarity Act stipulated that Parliament would have to be assured that any future referendum question was clear, and that victory for the separatists would require a “clear majority” in the vote.

The meaning of clear majority was never defined.

Chretien said the Clarity Act has been beneficial to the country.

“In a way, this is a stabilizing factor. And the people accept that.”

He mocked the federal NDP’s official position, which stipulates it would accept a referendum if 50 per cent plus one of Quebec voters opted for independence.

“Are they ready to let go your country with one lady who forgot her glasses at home and voted on the last wrong line in a referendum? I think that makes no sense. So the Clarity Act will apply.”

Chretien, now 78, was prime minister from 1993 to 2003.

Postmedia News asked the former prime minister to answer questions on six key themes.

Chretien said the country faces the same challenges as other nations. “We’re moving into a difficult world but it’s always been difficult,” he said.

“We tend to see the challenges as more difficult today than they were 50 years ago. And it’s not necessarily true, relatively speaking.

“Canada is in a very good position, compared to others. Because we have a lot of resources but we have a well educated population.”

2. The state of the political system and public participation.

“When I see what’s going on in the United States, I think we have a pretty good system in Canada,” said Chretien.

He likes the fundamentals: MPs elected in “districts” to represent their constituents and party, and a government that proposes legislation and administers to the country’s affairs.

“And there is, in our system, someone who is responsible. It is the prime minister. He has to discharge his duties the best he can. And if he does not do it well, he finishes without a job or in a minority situation. Or he goes into retirement because he has (had) enough.”

3. The state of national unity.

Chretien, a veteran of past crises on national unity, is proud of the Clarity Act.

The law has been criticized as an improper intervention in Quebec’s affairs, but Chretien said Britain is using the act “as a model” for a 2014 referendum on Scottish independence.

“The question has to be clear, they said. And it has to be approved by Westminster. It is a big departure.”

Here in Canada, Chretien said he hopes Stephen Harper’s government does not hand too many powers to the provinces. Critics have complained Harper’s view of “open federalism” could leave provinces with more control in areas such as health care and the environment than they have now.

“I hope the central government will not have devolution that will, a little bit at a time, dismantle the capacity of the centre to do things. The incapacity of the centre to do things in Europe is their problem today. So I hope we’re not doing the trip in reverse.”

4. The state of the health-care system.

As prime minister, Chretien appointed former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow to head a royal commission on the health-care system.

A decade later, Chretien said he believes that “generally speaking,” the system is “functioning reasonably well.”

“In terms of the administration, there are always challenges that vary from time to time. It will cost more money in the future, either to the government or to the citizen. Because the people are growing older and they live longer. “

Chretien said the 50-year-old system is scrambling to keep up with new treatments — such as knee replacements. That’s a “management problem” that the provinces must resolve, with financial help from the federal government, he said.

5. Canada’s foreign policy and relationship with the United States.

“Last year, I met the former president and a former prime minister of Portugal who was teasing me because they defeated us for a seat at the United Nations,” said Chretien.

“You know, more or less, they were telling us, ‘We, a small, broken country beat Canada.’ They were close to bankruptcy, and we lost there.”

Similarly, he said, Australia had no problem last month winning a seat on the council.

“(Pierre) Trudeau never had a problem there. (Brian) Mulroney never had a problem there. It’s a sign.

“We’re not seen as we were perceived before,” he said, adding that he doesn’t share the “conservative-oriented” policies that are guiding the Harper government.

“I’d rather be of the school of Pearson and Trudeau.”

6. Canada’s single greatest challenge and opportunity.

Chretien’s answer is direct: “To remain a united country with diversity, with generosity, with tolerance.

“The future is good for us. Very, very good. But we cannot destroy these things. We’ve built that over a long period of time. It’s all based on values.”

Chretien said that while European countries experience problems with immigration, Canada is known for its success.

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